Brooch assemblage



March 15, 1938. G. TAVANI 2,111,105.

BROOCH AS SEMBLAGE Filed Jan. 16, 1937 INVENTOR. evzimra i ma Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to jewelry and more particularly refers to improvements in demountable brooches comprising a pair of ornamental clips held together by a special mounting.

The idea of combining a set of two ornamental clips in order to produce a brooch is not per se new, but such arrangements as have come to my notice generally call for some addition to or modification of the usual construction of the type of ornamental clips to which the invention refers, resulting in unavoidable complications both in the construction and use of these articles.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of ornamental clips. and brooch mounting whereby a brooch can be quickly assembled or disassembled so as to permit the clips to be used separately or as parts of the brooch assemblage.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved construction of ornamental clips and brooch mounting adapted to cooperate with one another in producing'a brooch assemblage, said construction requiringbut very small changes in the clips themselves and being adapted to be produced at a relatively low cost.

Another object is .to provide a novel and improved construction of ornamental clip and. brooch mounting whereby the said two elements can be caused to readily interlock and to be just as readily disconnected, said construction entailing the use of parts which can be produced by punch and die operations insuring correct alignment and positive action at all times.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear as the description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear view'in elevation of a brooch assemblage embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view partly sectioned of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section thereof in an enlarged scale through line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front view in elevation of the brooch mounting shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end view in elevation thereof;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view in an enlarged scale illustrating the manner of connecting one of the clips to the brooch mounting;

Fig. 7 is a rear view in elevation of one of the ornamental clips forming part of my brooch assemblage showing its clasp in an expanded position; v

Fig. 8 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 9 is a rear view in elevation of an ornamental clip having its clasp extended, embodying my invention in an alternative form;

Fig. 10 is an edge view thereof; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 illustrating another alternative construction of clasp embodying my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to '7 of the drawing it is seen that the brooch shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is composed of two ornamental or dress clips 20, 2| each comprising a front ornamental member 22, 23 having a substantially straight inner end edge such as shown at 24, 25 and being formed with a rearwardly projecting ridge such as shown at 20, 2'! along said inner edge.

On the ridge of each clip is permanently fixed a pivotal support 28, 29 for a spring clasp 30, 3| used for clamping the clip onto the coat lapel in the usual manner. Each pivotal support comprises a base such as shown at 32 and two end ears or lugs 33 between which is hinged the attaching end of the corresponding clasp. The base 32 of each pivotal support is secured by soldering or some other similar manner to the ridge portion of the clip and therefore it is not always feasible to insure an exact predetermined relative position of the two pivotal supports when the two clips are set in adjoining relation in order to form a brooch.

In another application for patent, entitled Brooch and clips combination Ser. No. 106,072 copending herewith, I have described and claimed a brooch assemblage in which a brooch mounting is designed so as to cooperate with the ridge portion of the clips as a means for correctly positioning and holding the two clips together.

In the said arrangement a brooch mounting is provided with tongues cooperating with the inner surface of each ridge and with the outer edge of the base of each pivotal support for interlocking with the clips, one of the conditions for the correct working of the arrangement being that the inner end edges of the clips abut against each other.

I have found that in practice it is not always feasible to depend upon the cast parts and surfaces to provide means for exactly positioning two adjoining parts; furthermore, soldering or welding operations such as are employed in securingthe pivotal supports in place also give rise to inequalities and irregularities which may be due to running of the solder or other causes.

Such inequalities and irregularities as may arise from the process of manufacture of the clips can only be righted by the expenditure of some labor that naturally increases the cost of production beyond the practical limits imposed by marketing possibilities.

It is also to be noted that ornamental clips of the type to which this invention refers are not always made with a straight inner edge but have at times an edge formed with an irregular contour which would preclude the exact abutment of the two end edge surfaces against each other.

On the other hand, the clasps forming a part of each clip are made out of sheet metal by punch and die operations so that they always result exactly alike and therefore provide absolutely exact means for interlocking with a brooch mounting which also is made out of sheet metal.

The brooch mounting, which is generally designated by numeral 34, comprises a longitudinally extending body portion 35 from the lower 'portion of which are bent to upwardly extend two tongues 36, 31; said tonguesare adapted to be inserted through and register with the space defined by the inner surface 38 of the hinge portion of the clasp13ilorfl3l and two lugs 39, 40 struck off the body of the clasp and bent inwardly thereof, in parallel alignment to said surface 38.

The tongues are spaced fromthe body portion of the mounting a distance sufficient to receive the thickness of the clasp, and they are preferably somewhat longerthan 'the width of the clasp so as to project beyond it when the brooch is assembled as shown in Fig. 1.

The tongues are caused to interlock with the clasps in any desired manner so that when the clips have been fully inserted in position upon the mounting, the said parts will snap into interlocking engagement. For instance, each tongue may be longitudinally split as'shown at 4| so as to cause the two split portions thereof to acquire a certain amount of resiliency in a lateral edgewise direction. The outer split portion 42 of each 'tongue is furthermore provided with a notch 43 which is adapted, to snap into interlocking engagement with the adjoining lug' ll] when the relative interlocking positionof the tongue and clasp'has been reached.

'The outer end of said notch is preferably formed with a rounded corner at so that'while the spring action provided by the splitting of the body of the tongue is sufiicient to cause a firm engagement betweenthe tongue and the clasp to take place, the rounded corner 44 makes it possible to disengage thejtwo' parts merely by exerting endwise pressure against said parts in the disengaging direction. 1

As previously stated, the tongues 36, 31 are bent inwardly with respect to the body portion'35 of the brooch mounting so that when the device is assembled the tongues will remain inserted between the clasps and the rear surface of the brooch mounting remaining exposed andforming the rear surface of the assemblage as Fig. 1 clearlyshows.

Said rear surface carries a safety pin structure comprising the usual pivotal support 45,2, longitiidi nally' extending pin 46 v having an end pivotally, connectedto said support and a catch 41 at the other, end for lockingth'e free end with said pin in' position. 7

The safety pin structure is preferably located above the longitudinal central line of the brooch assemblage so that the weight of the clips will cause the brooch to hang down vertically from the safety pinstructure.

It will be observed that by virtue of the construction described, each clip will firmly interlock with the brooch mounting independently of the other so that there is no necessity of making any provision for an exact abutment of surfaces of one of the clips against surfaces of the other.

All that is necessary is to place tongues 36,31

from each other a distance which is at least equal and preferably a trifle greater than the distance separating the inner surfaces 38 of the hinged portion of the clasps when the two clips are placed end to end with their inner edges in abutment. It is obvious that in order to provide an interlocking engagement between the clasps and the latch tongues it is not necessary that the inner edge of each latch tongue be caused to abut against the inner surface 38 of the hinge portion of the clasp.

If. desired, the clasp can be provided With two sets of lugs 39-50, 39-40", spaced from each other the same distance as the width of the latch tongue to be inserted therebetween, as shown in Figs. 9 and 1}), the latch tongues being inwardly spaced with respect to the hinge portion of the clasps instead of being abutting'thereagainst.

It is also obvious that if desired a means of guiding each latch tongue and retaining it in the proper position with respect to the clasp can also be provided by forming a depression adapted to receive the latch tongue in the body of the clasp self instead of striking off lugs projecting from itssurfa'ce.

Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 11 where the clasp 48 is provided with a transversal depression 49, the 'depth of which is substantially equivalent to the thickness of the latch tongue to be inserted therein and the width of which is substantially the same as that of the latch tongue.

The constructions described do not in any Way interfere with the proper functioning of the clasps when the clips are used separately, and to this end the clasps are provided with the usual gripping teeth 50 struck off and inwardly projecting from the body thereof. While I prefer to bend the latch tongues upwardly'from the lower longitudinal edge of the mounting, so that the clips will be supported by the mounting even in case one or both latch tonguesshould fail to snap into interlocking engagement with the clasp or clasps, it is within the'scope of my invention to reverse the position of thelatch tongues, in which case it will be necessary to rely entirely upon a positive locking action preventing one or both clips from slipping ofi their relative latch tongue.

It is thus seen that since my improved mounting makes it possible to locate the clips at any desired, distance from each other, the arrangement makes it possible to totally disregard such irregularities of the adjoining surfaces of the clips as might otherwise interfere with their proper mounting; furthermore, it makes it possible to join two clips, the inneredge of which has an irregular or other than straight outline.

With this method of mounting, it is also possible to so space the latch tongues 36, 31 that the clips may remain'at a distance from each other sufficient to permit the insertion therebetween of a third ornamental element which can also be held in position by means of a central latch tongue added to the two shown in the drawing.

Other minor constructional details of my invention may vary' from those shown without departing from the inventive idea. The drawing should, therefore, be understood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense.

Accordingly, I reserve the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, and a brooch mounting com prising a longitudinally extending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith.

2. In a brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, and a brooch mounting comprising a longitudinally extending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith, each spring clasp having means forming a guiding abutment for one of said latch tongue members, preventing relative lateral movement of said latch tongue members and clasps.

3. In a brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, a brooch mounting comprising a longitudinally ext-ending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith, and a fastening device carried by said mounting at the rear surface thereof.

4. In a brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each .clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, a brooch mounting comprising a longitudinally extending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith, and a fastening device carried by said mounting at the rear surface and in proximity of the longitudinal edge thereof opposite to that from which extend said latch tongue members.

5. Ina brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, and a brooch mounting comprising a longitudinally extending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith, each spring clasp having lugs struck ofi and projecting inwardly of the surface thereof, forming a guiding abutent for one of said latch tongue members, preventing relative lateral movement of said latch tongue members and clasps.

6. In a brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, a brooch mounting comprising a longitudinally extending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith, each spring clasp having means forming a guiding abutment for one of said latch tongue members, preventing relative lateral movement of said latch tongue members and clasps, and afastening device carried by said mounting at the rear surface thereof.

'7. In a brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, and a brooch mounting comprising a longitudinally extending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being longitudinally split to form laterally resilient structures, and being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith, each spring clasp having means forming a guiding abutment for one of said latch tongue members, preventing relative lateral movement of said latch tongue members and clasps.

8. In a brooch assembly, a pair of clip members, each clip member comprising a front ornamental body and a spring clasp pivotally mounted at the rear thereof, a brooch mounting comprising a longitudinally extending body portion and two longitudinally spaced latch tongue members integral therewith, said latch tongue members extending from one of the longitudinal edges of said body portion across the front surface thereof, transversely thereto, said latch tongue members being longitudinally split to form laterally resilient structures, and being spaced from said surface a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of said spring clasps, and being adapted to interlock therewith, each spring clasp having means forming a guiding abutment for one of said latch tongue members, preventing relative lateral movement of said latch tongue members and clasps, and a fastening device carried by said mounting at the rear surface thereof.

GENNARO TAVANI. 

